Lebanon

Dear Grade Two Students at Roseville College,

We’d like to share with you some information about our beloved

country, Lebanon.

Grade Two Students at Makassed Omar Bin Al-Khattab School (OBK)

Beirut-Lebanon

 Lebanon, officially the <<Lebanese Republic>>,

is a country in the East

Mediterranean,<<>><<>>

<<and is the smallest>> <<< country in

Asia.>>>

Brief History of Lebanon

The land of Lebanon was settled thousands of years ago. The city of Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

During 1500 BC the Empire of the Phoenicians emerged from the land of Lebanon. They were a seafaring people whose culture flourished and spread through the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians stayed in power until around 300 BC. Several more empires controlled the land of Lebanon over history including the Romans, Arabs, and finally the Ottoman Empire.

When the Ottoman Empire collapsed after World War I, France took control of Lebanon. In 1943, Lebanon gained independence from France .

Lebanon Today Capital: BeirutDialing code: 961Currency: Lebanese poundPopulation: 4,259,405 Official Language: ArabicSize: 10,452 Km2

The Geography of Lebanon

Lebanon is bounded on the north and east by Syria, on the west by the Mediterranean, and on the south by Palestine.

Lebanon consists of two mountain chains, the Lebanon and the anti-Lebanon; a narrow coastal strip, where all the major cities lie; and a fertile plain,the Bekaa Valley, which lies between the two mountain chains and provides most of the local agricultural produce.

The Lebanon Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed

on the Lebanese flag.

Climate

• Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate

characterized by a long, hot, and dry summer, and cool, rainy winter. Fall is a transitional season with a gradual lowering of temperature and little rain; spring occurs when the winter rains cause the vegetation to revive. The daily range of temperature is not wide.

Touristic Sites in LebanonBeirutWe live in Beirut. Beirut  is the capital and largest city of Lebanon . It is located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coast. It serves as the country's largest and main seaport. The city has been inhabited since the 15th century BC. 

Beirut is Lebanon's seat of government. It plays a central role in the Lebanese economy, with many banks and corporations. The city is famous for its press, theatres, universities, schools, and cultural activities. The most famous natural landmark in Beirut is Roucha Rock which consists of two huge rocks. They stand like gigantic sentinels. They are a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. 

AnjarAnjar is situated on the Bekaa plain. It is the site of the only Umayyad city in Lebanon. It was built from 705 to 715 and many well-conserved ruins still remain.

BaalbekBaalbek is a town in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, and it can be considered among the wonders of the ancient world.

Beiteddine

Beiteddine is a small Lebanese town in the Chouf District. The town is famous for its magnificent Beiteddine Palace which hosts the Beiteddine Festival every summer.

Parts of the palace are today open to the public while the rest is the Lebanese president's summer residence.

Byblos (Jbeil)The city of Byblos has constantly been inhabited since the sixth century BC. The actual town is made up of the old town, surrounded by medieval walls along with the modern town that progressively expands towards the mountains.

Sidon (Saida)Sidon is the capital of South Lebanon. It has been mentioned in writings since the 14th century BC. Since Antiquity, it has been one of the most flourishing ports of Phoenicia and the Mediterranean.Traces of this glorious past still hover in every street of the city.

Jeita Grotto The Jeita Grotto is a system of two separate, but

interconnected caves. They are situated in the Nahr Al-Kalb Valley 18 kilometres north of Beirut. The lower

cave can only be visited by boat. It was nominated as the eighth wonder of the world.

The Culture of Lebanon

The culture of Lebanon is the cross culture of various civilizations over thousands of years, originally home to the Phoenicians. Then subsequently, it was conquered and occupied by the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Crusaders, the Ottoman Turks and most recently the French. Lebanese culture has evolved by borrowing from all of these groups.

Public Holidays in Lebanon

Lebanon celebrates both Christian and Muslim holidays such as:Christmas ,Easter, Eid al-Fitr (the three-day feast at the end of Ramadan ,the month of fasting), Eid al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice which is celebrated during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia), and the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

As foe Lebanon's national holidays, they include: Labor Day(May 1), Independence Day(November 22), and Martyrs’ Day (May6).

Lebanese CuisineFood in Daily Life

Lebanese cuisine is Mediterranean. Pita bread is a staple. The Lebanese enjoy Hummus (chick pea), fool (a fava bean dip),

and other bean dishes.

Rice is nearly a staple, and pasta is very popular.

The Lebanese national dishes are the Kibbe, , a meat pie made from finely minced lamb and burghul (cracked wheat) and… Tabbouleh, a salad made from parsley, tomatoes, and burghul.

 Sports in Lebanon• Football and Basketball are the most

popular sports in Lebanon. • Winter sports such as skiing and

snowboarding are popular sports up in the mountains .

• Running is popular, too . The Beirut International Marathon is held every fall, drawing top runners from Lebanon and abroad.

• Other sports such as surfing, body boarding, netball, cycling, beach soccer, skateboarding, and baseball are increasing in popularity.

Welcome to Lebanon

Please Do Come and Visit Us…..